Liputan6.com, Jakarta The combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medicine in treating patients with the corona virus or COVID-19 has proven effective.Yu Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission and deputy head of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said this combination of drugs can treat even mild symptoms quickly."This method can improve the condition of patients with mild symptoms (such as fever, cough, sore throat, weakness and lack of appetite) quickly, and reduce the duration of hospitalization," Yu said, reported by XinhuaNet."Experts have also found that this combination drug helps prevent mild symptoms from developing into a severe and critical condition, thereby reducing the death rate from the disease," he continued.We already know that China has created many new departments to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak, one of which is the 5th lung department which was temporarily created at TCM Hospital of Hubei.From the start, this department combined Chinese and Western medicine to save patients."TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Western medicine are equally important in treating COVID-19. The combination can shorten the treatment process and quickly relieve symptoms," Feng Yi, chief physician of Pulmonary Medicine at TCM Hospital of Hubei, told the Global Times.The department accepts patients with both mild and severe symptoms, and has stabilized their condition.As of February 20, 26 patients in it have been discharged and 36 are still under treatment.Feng said that apart from improving the respiratory tract, TCM works well in treating symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, and can prevent the disease from progressing to a critical stage.Since Monday 17 February, TCM has treated more than 85.2 percent of the confirmed COVID-19 cases across the country.Outside of Hubei, as many as 87 percent of patients have been cured or their condition improved thanks to TCM."Current TCM therapy has given good results because most of the patients have been relieved of pain, cough, phlegm, and shortness of breath, and have improved their appetite," said Wen, head of the supporting medical team at First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University. of Chinese Medicine sent to Wuhan.Wang Zhen, chief physician at the respiratory department of Chiense Medicine Hospital of Zhejiang Province, told the Global Times that 95.83 percent of Covid-19 patients in Zheijang had undergone TCM treatment.He acknowledged that TCM is also effective in treating SARS and H1N1 or bird flu.Last January 21, China filed for a patent for a drug that is said to be used as an antiviral drug for the corona virus.TCM uses methods such as acupuncture, massage, and tai chi plus TCM herbs according to the symptoms.Wen said that disease is caused by the malfunctioning of one or more organs affected by factors such as humidity or body temperature.The concept of Chinese medicine is to restore organ function through special therapy.Healthy, well-functioning organs help eliminate external factors (what Western medicine calls viruses and Chinese medicine calls them 'evil').Conflicts and Doubts Against TCMDoubts about TCM treatment are always present, even some doctors have criticized it.One of them is Tao Lina, who works at the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention said "TCM can prevent and cure COVID-19 is a strange logic, because TCM does not have the concept of microorganisms."Cao Hongxin, former head of science and technology at the State Administration of TCM said, "Western medicine intervened after sorting out a map of viral characteristics and pathogenesis, while TCM interpreted pandemics from the principles of how humans adapt to changing seasons and changing nature."Wen believes the doubts regarding TCM are caused by the lack of indicators to show that it can kill the virus.He said Chinese and Western medicine each had advantages and disadvantages.Despite the doubts about the effectiveness of TCM, many people who bought TCM since late January, even waited in line outside the pharmacy until late at night.The clinical symptoms found after taking TCM were fever, cough, dry throat, yellow phlegm, abdominal distension and constipation, chest tightness, reddish tongue with a yellow, thick and oily coating, citing the Global Times.TCM consists of: Almond 10 grams, Gypsum Fibrosum 30 grams, Fructus Trichosanthis 30 grams, Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei 6 grams, Herba Ephefrae 6 grams, Roasted Herba Ephefrae 6 grams, Semen Lepidii 10 grams, Semen Persicae 10 grams, Fructus Tsaoko 6 grams , Semen Arecae 10 grams, Rhizoma Atractylodis 10 grams.So far, the drug that has been recognized for treating COVID-19 is new Favilavir.Meanwhile, Remdesivir, which has also been registered, still has to undergo clinical trials, as well as combination HIV drugs from South Korea, which also still have to undergo clinical trials.